Christmas in Rome

What’s closed in Rome at Christmas and New Year?

On 25 December and 1 January, almost all major museums are closed. The Vatican Museums also close on 8 and 26 December and 6 January.

The two dates to mark are 25 December and 1 January: the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Castel Sant'Angelo, the Galleria Borghese, Villa d'Este and the San Callisto catacombs are closed on both days. On the rest of the holidays, they open with winter hours.

Watch out for weekly closure days, which are more noticeable during the holidays. Castel Sant'Angelo and Galleria Borghese close on Mondays, so also on 28 December; San Callisto closes on Wednesdays, so on 30 December and 6 January. From 13 January to 10 February 2027, San Callisto is closed for the annual break.

Are the Vatican Museums open between Christmas and Epiphany?

Yes, except 8, 25 and 26 December and 1 and 6 January. 31 December is not a closure, and Sunday 27 December would be free under the rule.

From Monday to Saturday, the Museums open from 8:00 to 20:00, with last entry at 18:00; the rooms start to empty half an hour before closing. Between Christmas and Epiphany, there are still many useful days: Monday 28, Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 December, Saturday 2 January, Monday 4 and Tuesday 5.

Sunday 27 December is the last of the month. The Museums rule would make it free 9:00-14:00, as the exception only covers 25, 26 and 31 December, but the official calendar has not confirmed it yet. If you have a fixed date, book a weekday first.

On holidays the Museums fill up. Online booking costs €5 extra and official tickets are non-refundable; the guided tour with pre-booked entry can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before.

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's in three hours with a guide, with pre-booked entry and official headsets.

★ 4.6 · 3 hours · from $64

Discover the Vatican guided tour → Tour details

Is the Colosseum open at Christmas and on 1 January?

No: the Colosseum closes on 25 December 2026 and 1 January 2027. On other days it opens with winter hours, until 16:30.

From 25 October 2026 to 28 February 2027, the Colosseum Archaeological Park closes at 16:30 and last entry is at 15:30. In December, this means a visit to be done in the morning or right after lunch. Tickets are released 30 days before the visit and are named tickets.

The first Sundays of the period are 6 December 2026 and 3 January 2027, with free entry and tickets to collect on site. 3 January falls in the holiday period: expect a queue.

St Peter’s dome also follows winter hours, 7:30-17:00. The basilica remains free, with the usual dress code rules.

What time does it get dark in Rome in December?

Early: at the end of November the sun sets around 16:40, and on 21 December around 16:42. By mid-January it’s around 17:05.

These are times calculated for the center of Rome, with a couple of minutes of margin. The practical point is one: the light ends before the museums. At 16:30 the Colosseum closes, around 16:40 the sun sets, while the Pantheon stays open until 19:00 and the Vatican Museums until 20:00.

Plan your day in two parts: ruins and outdoor sites in the morning, museums and churches in the afternoon, and the evening among the street lights. It’s cold but not too cold: in December average temperatures range from 5 to 13°C, with about nine rainy days in the month. A small umbrella is enough, also because medium and large ones must be left at the Vatican cloakroom.

What’s on in Rome at Christmas: lights, trees and nativity scenes?

The 2026-27 programme is not out yet. Last year the lights stayed on from 26 November to 6 January, with trees in the main squares and the New Year’s Eve concert at the Circus Maximus.

To give you an idea, here is how it went last year according to Roma Capitale. The Christmas lights were on from 26 November to 6 January. The Christmas trees were in St Peter's Square, in Piazza del Popolo, in Piazza di Spagna and on the Campidoglio. In the Vatican, the «100 Presepi in Vaticano» exhibition remained open from 8 December to 6 January, and on New Year's Eve the concert was held at the Circus Maximus.

Many of these things return every year, but the 2026-27 dates and locations are set by the City of Rome when it publishes the programme. To see them just walk: a stroll between the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona works well even at 17:00, when it’s already dark. Remember that Trevi’s basin costs €2 from 9:00 to 22:00 for non-residents.

How to plan the festive days in Rome?

Put the Vatican on a weekday between 28 and 31 December or between 2 and 5 January, the Colosseum in the morning, and keep in mind the Monday and Wednesday closures.

A working order: Vatican on weekdays, when it’s open until 20:00, Colosseum and Forum in the morning, historic centre and lights in the afternoon. 25 December and 1 January, with the big museums closed, are the days for walking among the squares.

For dark afternoons, there is also underground Rome. The tour of the Capuchin Crypt and catacombs moves by coach between one place and another; according to the listing, on Sundays the visit to the churches is not guaranteed due to religious services. Another indoor idea is a cooking class, and what to order on other evenings is in the guide to what to eat in Rome.

The Capuchin Crypt and catacombs with a guide, with a coach between sites. Departure from Piazza Barberini.

★ 4.6 · 2.5-3.5 hours · from $55

Discover the Capuchin Crypt and catacombs → Tour details

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